After the exorcism, the adventurers return to Jack's cabin. While Jack is all fired up about taking the fight to the Vermite King, Aiken just wants to sit down and recover. Jack offers beer, which helps this along.

They discuss zombie-fighting techniques – or rather, how Aiken would fight zombies. He concludes that burning them is probably best, and Jack digs out a Kadie-built artifact from Tursdi. It turns out to be a short-sword with a spinning flint and oil pouch, and a finger-operated pump. Jack demonstrates how to prime it, and then pulls the trigger to light it up. Instant flaming sword!

Aiken gives it a try out on the dock, and while it fits great on him (since it was made for a Kadie) he still shows his lack of training. Midge suggests asking the tiger-Khatta bodyguards at the other cabin if they could give Aiken some training, since they don't want anyone from town to know about it.